ROBBER TO SPEND THIS HOLIDAY ON ICE

On Nov. 1, 1993, Hardy pleaded guilty to two robberies, then begged a judge to let him go home for the holidays.

"I would like to spend Christmas with my three kids if possible because it's going to be awhile before I see them again and I would like to have this last Christmas," he told Broward Circuit Judge Barry E. Goldstein.

Hardy pleaded guilty to three counts of strong-arm robbery for two attacks on April 10, 1993, in Hallandale. In one case, he pushed a 78-year-old woman to the floor in her condominium lobby and stole her purse. Then he ripped a gold chain off a 67-year-old woman in a parking lot. The victim in the first attack was hospitalized.

Goldstein, a judge known for his tough stance toward criminals in his courtroom, showed compassion. He let Hardy, 32, free for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

Then the judge cut a tough deal. Hardy would be sentenced to 20 years for the violent robberies if he showed up in court Jan. 3.

If he missed his hearing, Goldstein promised he would sentence Hardy, who has a long criminal record for drugs, robbery and theft, to 120 years.

Hardy's court date came, but he did not show up. He got a chance not only to spend the winter holidays with his kids, but Valentine's Day and Easter as well.

Hardy, who was arrested in Hollywood on May 17 after a brief police chase, appeared before Goldstein's bench in Fort Lauderdale again on Friday.

Clutching a red Bible, Hardy blinked and swallowed hard as he saw the sentence he had bargained for triple, to 60 years followed by 20 years probation. Goldstein found he could not give Hardy 120 years after reviewing the law.

"He had an agreement and I'm going to ask the court that he be made to live up to that agreement," prosecutor Ken Padowitz said. "He basically thumbed his nose at this court when he said 'Well, I'm not going to show up for my sentencing."'

Defense attorney Wayne Corry asked Goldstein to stick with the original deal. He said his client missed the court date because of his addiction to drugs.

"I don't think those elderly vicitms cared that Mr. Hardy was on drugs at the time he attacked them," Padowitz said.